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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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“Ah—.“
Alisa’s eyes snapped open. It was still early morning, before the wake-up call.
She lay still in her bunk, eyes wide open. The day of the Solar Knights’ visit had arrived, and she couldn’t sleep from anticipation and excitement.
“This is real, it’s really happening…!“
The model student squad leader was still in disbelief. She had never dreamed of meeting the Solar Knights like this.
“Ah, aaaaaaaaaah, aaaaaaaaaaah—.“
Overwhelmed with joy, she thrashed her limbs. She stared intently at the clock, desperately wishing for morning to come.
Finally, the long-awaited wake-up call rang. She jumped out of bed like a fresh recruit and tidied her space.
She finished making her bed and prepared for roll call before the assistant even entered. Given the importance of the day, the duty officer skipped the usual morning roll call and ordered cleaning instead. The ancient cleaning robots had been running all night, but they still required some human assistance.
The cadets, happy to avoid roll call, half-heartedly cleaned their surroundings.
After the combined roll call and cleaning, they headed to the showers to prepare for breakfast. The other female cadets could sense Alisa’s excitement. Her normally icy demeanor was replaced by an uncontainable smile.
After breakfast, the cadets went to the training room to listen to the dull presentations of the recruiters. Neither side was particularly enthusiastic, resulting in a symphony of yawns.
Alisa was physically present in the training room, but her mind was with the Solar Knights.
“Aaaaaaaaaaah—.“
She eagerly awaited their arrival. She had never been this excited in her life—! She hadn’t even been this nervous during the knight qualification exam.
The long, tedious morning presentations finally ended, and the cadets were relaxing after lunch when a sudden announcement ordered them to assemble at the parade ground.
“Ah—!“
Each barracks assistant led their cadets to the parade ground, where they lined up starting from the entrance. The main gate, usually closed tight, was wide open, welcoming the yet-to-arrive VIPs.
While annoyed by the inconvenience, the cadets were curious to see the Solar Knights, figures important enough to warrant such a fuss.
Soon, several vehicles approached. They weren’t the Commandant’s vehicles but the Head of Headquarters’ top-of-the-line cars. The tinted windows obscured the interiors, but everyone assumed the Solar Knights were inside.
As the vehicles stopped in front of the training camp, the Commandant rushed out and personally opened the rear door.
A woman with a cascade of beautiful blonde hair emerged, dressed in a dazzling uniform. She was a breathtaking beauty, exuding an elegant aura and an imposing presence.
“Ah—.“
Alisa instantly knew. This woman was a Solar Knight.
She embodied the very image of a knight that Alisa aspired to.
Everyone applauded enthusiastically. The Solar Knights, escorted by the Commandant and the Head of Headquarters, entered the building.
That was it. The cadets, who had been standing at attention and clapping their hands raw, were led back to their barracks.
Buzz-cut, upon returning to the barracks and plopping down on her bunk, exclaimed,
“Damn, she oozed class. You could just tell she was different from us.”
“Did you see the Commandant and the Head of Headquarters groveling? That’s how important they are. Damn, we can’t even compare.”
“But why would someone like that come here?”
“How should I know? It’s like those rich people who get their kicks from watching poor people. Probably something like that.”
As the cadets chatted amongst themselves, their female assistant entered and told them to prepare for the training room. Of course, the Solar Knights wouldn’t come to the training room immediately after their long journey; they would probably listen to presentations from other recruiters.
As expected, the cadets spent the afternoon listening to more boring presentations. During one such presentation, Alisa was suddenly summoned by her assistant.
“Squad Leader, come with me.”
At that point, Alisa couldn’t even imagine what was about to happen.
“Who summoned me?”
“The Commandant.”
“May I ask why?”
“I don’t know.”
Alisa’s mind raced.
The Commandant should be busy attending to the Knights; why would he suddenly summon her—?
She soon arrived at the Commandant’s office, the area heavily guarded.
Strangely, the Commandant, who had summoned Cadet Alisa, was waiting for her outside.
“You called for me, Commandant?”
“Ah, you’re Alisa?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go on in.”
Alisa bowed her head and cautiously opened the door to the Commandant’s office.
Inside, the blonde woman she had seen earlier was sitting in a chair, sipping coffee.
The Solar Knights—!
Alisa couldn’t tear her eyes away from the dazzling figure.
Ah—.
Meeting this great person in person was an unparalleled honor. Alisa gave the best salute she could muster.
“It is an infinite honor to meet you. I am Alisa Kabri—!”
Ellis, the Solar Knight, set down her coffee cup and responded with a gentle smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alisa. Karl told me about you. An excellent cadet who aspires to be a knight.”
…Karl…?
But she quickly forgot about that damn bastard and focused on the Knight.
“It’s my dream to become an excellent knight like you—!”
“Like me? Chuckle.”
The Head of Headquarters chuckled at her words. Oops. Alisa realized her mistake.
“I, I apologize.”
“It’s alright. If you become a knight, I’ll be your senior. I’ll be rooting for you.”
“Thank you—!”
“Well, I called you out during a busy time, didn’t I? You can go now.”
“Yes, ma! I’ll take my leave—!”
She saluted again and left the Commandant’s office. Outside, the Commandant told her she could return to her duties.
As she walked back to the training room with her assistant, her legs felt weak with relief.
Ha, ha.
To think I would meet a Solar Knight face to face—.
It was just a brief greeting, but for her, it was an incredible honor, one she might never experience again.
After meeting the Knight, her desire to become one intensified.
If you become a knight, I’ll be your senior. I’ll be rooting for you.
She said she’d be rooting for me…. She said if I become a knight, she’ll be my senior…!
Alisa’s breath hitched, and her heart pounded. Even back in the training room, she kept replaying the encounter in her head. She couldn’t hear a word the recruiter was saying.
The Solar Knights’ presentation was scheduled for tomorrow morning—. The word “presentation” felt almost insulting when applied to such esteemed figures, but that was the official term.
She spent the rest of the day in a blissful daze, feeling as if she were floating on a cloud.
Later, after dinner, she briefly encountered Karl. He brushed past her, pretending not to know her, and slipped her a note. Back in her barracks, she went to the bathroom, sat on the toilet, and unfolded the note.
Tonight at midnight. Usual spot.
Her elation from meeting the Knight evaporated. She didn’t want to risk sneaking out the night before such a momentous occasion, but that crazy bastard would undoubtedly throw a fit if she didn’t show up, so she had no choice.
Security will be tighter than usual….
But what could she do? She would have to be extra careful.
Evening roll call ended, and the cadets wearily settled into their bunks. As night fell, Alisa carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake anyone.
She cautiously opened the barracks door and stepped out into the hallway. At the end of the hall, the duty officer and the night watchman were dozing off.
Perfect—.
She quickly pressed herself against the wall, opened a window, and slipped outside.
There were guards outside, but she had already identified the blind spots. Using her agility, she evaded their notice and successfully left the barracks.
When she arrived at the meeting spot, that damn bastard was already there, leaning against the wall with a smug grin.
“Ah, our pretty girl has arrived.”
“I told you not to call me pretty.”
“Then, cutie?”
“Just call me by my name.”
“How boring. You won’t get any love from men like that.”
Alisa, eager to return, crossed her arms, turned her head, and curtly asked,
“Just tell me what you want. I’m leaving soon. You know what tomorrow is, right?”
“Of course, I do. It’s the day our pretty girl gets excited.”
“Hey, I told you not to call me that. This is your last warning. If you do it again, I’m leaving.”
“Alright, alright. Tch.”
Karl sauntered towards her with his hands in his pockets, looking like a street thug.
“So, you met our Knight today?”
“…What…?”
“You left in the middle of the presentations. I saw you.”
Alisa wondered what he was talking about.
“I asked her to meet you. …Did she not mention my name?”
……Ah…….
Seeing Karl’s smug grin, Alisa suddenly remembered what the Knight had said. …She had been so excited about meeting the esteemed Knight that she had completely forgotten.
Karl told me about you. An excellent cadet who aspires to be a knight.
Karl told me. Karl told me. Karl told me….
The words echoed in her mind.
Karl, Karl, Karl.
How could she have mentioned this bastard’s name? How? Why? …How does she know him?
Seeing Alisa’s dumbfounded expression, Karl chuckled lewdly and leaned in close.
“I have some connections. Pulled a few strings.”
Ah.
“So, how was it? Good enough to make you piss yourself?”
Ah ah.
Alisa lowered her head, her body trembling inexplicably. …She didn’t know how to describe this feeling. It was so strange.
“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything? Was it that bad? Did I do something wrong? Hmm?”
“H…how did you do it? How are you connected to her?”
“Oh, that—. Well, it’s probably because I’m, you know, awesome? Khh.”
His smug grin and boastful attitude made her fists clench. Alisa felt an overwhelming sense of injustice.
Why did the universe give this bastard both talent and connections—!
“I did this for you because I like you. Be grateful, pretty girl. Heh.”
Karl patted Alisa’s soft, short hair. Normally, she would have yelled at him, but she didn’t react. …Or rather, she couldn’t react.
“I helped you out with something you desperately wanted. You should do something for me in return.”
“…It wasn’t necessary.”
She forced herself to speak.
“Oh, really? …Hmm, is that so….”
She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
“So, you’re saying I don’t need to do you any other favors? …Like a private meeting, or something?”
A private meeting.
Alisa felt a jolt.
Ah—.
A private meeting with the Solar Knights.
A one-on-one meeting with the greatest knight order in the universe.
She would give anything for that.
What could be more glorious—!
“I could arrange it, but if you don’t want it, then whatever. …Forget it. I’m leaving.”
Karl lightly tapped Alisa’s cheek and turned to leave.
This is a trick.
That cunning bastard’s manipulation—!
Alisa squeezed her eyes shut, her fingernails digging into her palms.
A private meeting with the Solar Knights.
The thought was unbearable. …Could any aspiring knight resist such a temptation?
“W…wait….”
Karl stopped and turned around, a smug grin on his face.
“What? Something to say?”
His feigned ignorance infuriated her, but she was at his mercy. She had no choice but to beg.
After a long silence, Alisa finally spoke.
“Can you… really do that…?”
She had finally asked—.
Karl chuckled, pleased.
“Of course.”
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